Coach Killers: Bad Basketball - What Problems Can We Anticipate?

Edit, edit, edit. Bad basketball, what weaknesses and mistakes show up? Focus on the low hanging fruit, what makes coaches lose sleep. Spanx founder Sara Blakely explains her version of knowing what works: 

Abandon what doesn't work. During our first practice, some activities went well and others less so.

• The energy level was good. 
• In transition, we did not handle the ball well or make good enough decisions.
• We shot the ball a little better than I expected. 

What 'grey areas' can we anticipate? 

Shot selection. Good teams consistently take good shots. Everyone must know what good shots are for themselves and for teammates. Provide freedom but don't compromise discipline. "Trust but verify." 

Dribble mania. As teams mature, they understand how and why to use the dribble. In the half-court, emphasize attacking, angles, avoiding trouble and east-west "rec ball" dribbling. We were light years better last night. 

• Excellent players excel in space and by creating separation. 
• Don't play in the traffic. 
• Explode to the basket. 

Ball-sticking. Repeat key points. Repeat key points. "Movement kills defenses." Move the ball and cut hard to create opportunity for yourself and teammates. Apply pressure to the defense. Stand still and risk more time on the bench. 

Silence. "Silent teams lose." Make teammates better by communicating. "Early, loud, and often." My coach also taught that it's okay to be yelled at, because that indicates there's still hope for you. Tell me more. 



Toughness. "The game honors toughness." Serious purpose demands Jay Bilas' "Toughness" as required reading. His ESPN article is the Cliff Notes version. Don't ask players to do what you didn't do as a player. 

"I would watch games and see player upon player thumping his chest after a routine play, angrily taunting an opponent after a blocked shot, getting into a shouting match with an opposing player, or squaring up nose-to-nose as if a fight might ensue. I see players jawing at each other, trying to "intimidate" other players. What a waste of time. That is nothing more than fake toughness, and it has no real value."

Transition defense. "It's not a running game; it's a sprinting game." Creating and denying separation demand more effort than you believe you can give. We can't allow more than three transition hoops per game. 

"It's about the players." Nobody comes to watch the coaching staff. 

Lagniappe: Learn how to play without the ball. Another brilliant teaching video. 

Lagniappe 2: I love this drill...not sure the players do. 

3 x 3 x 3 shooting...belongs in our drill book. 6 balls in use. Players cut to the basket to receive a pass "shot ready." Passers must call out the receiver's name, then sprint to the other end to shoot. Get your own rebound and become the passer. It requires conditioning and builds some mental toughness if run for about six minutes.